Sacrifice: The Queen's Blade (14 page)

"You feel that there is no merit in her plan, then?" Durlan enquired.

"None whatsoever. Cotti kings have never been honourable, and they set no store in women, either. A half Jashimari daughter will not sway Kerrion, any fool knows that."

"What of Shamsara's prediction?"

"Shamsara gave the Queen a few words, which she has interpreted in her own way, and wrongly, I believe. For all we know, he could have been speaking of a Contaran Queen, if she must be neither Cotti nor Jashimari."

"I am surprised that Lord Conash goes along with this," Javare muttered, stroking the slender red fire snake that emerged from his sleeve. "His hatred of the Cotti is well known."

Mendal sipped his wine and studied the lord's shy familiar, a particularly venomous variety. "Who cares what he thinks? He does not matter. What matters is how we are going to remove the Princess."

"Do we have to kill her?" Durlan pleaded. "She is only an infant. Perhaps if we abducted her..."

"The Queen would ransack the city to find her, and she would be impossible to hide with that white hair."

"We could dye it."

Mendal shook his head. "No. She must die, I am afraid. The only problem is who will do it. No assassin will accept such a mission, and then, of course, there is that damned cat..."

"The cat leaves to hunt every other night," Javare informed him. "For several time-glasses she is away feeding in the goat pen. As to who would do it, that is simple: a Contara assassin."

"And how do you suggest we hire a Contara assassin without getting our throats slit in the process?" Mendal enquired with deceptive mildness.

"We go to this upstart prince under a flag of truce. We tell him of the Queen's plans and ask his help. He will be more than willing to slay the Princess if it will help his cause, and if he thinks that Kerrion may turn against him because of her, he will want to help us. We smuggle the assassin into the city and wait for a night when the sand cat is feeding, then all he has to contend with are the guards outside the Queen's door."

Mendal looked thoughtful. "Perhaps two or three assassins would be better. But what of the risk that they may slay the Queen? We cannot send enemy assassins into her chamber."

"No," Javare agreed. "So it must be only one assassin, and one of us must go with him to ensure the Queen's safety."

Mendal eyed him. "I am too old, and Durlan too fat, so that only leaves you, My Lord."

Javare shot Durlan a scornful look. "If I am to go with this assassin, I may as well do the deed myself. Murdering an infant is not difficult, I am sure."

"We need him to slay the guards, and besides, only an assassin has the stealth to creep around the Queen's bed chamber and kill her daughter without waking her. If she does wake, we will all feel the point of Blade's dagger, or the gallows."

Durlan heaved himself to his feet and refilled his cup, taking a gulp before sinking back onto the couch, which creaked in protest. "With him, you feel nothing, you only wake up when you are dead."

"How comforting," Javare sneered.

"Are we agreed then?" Mendal asked. "Do we meet the Contaran Prince and make a deal with him?"

"I dislike treating with the enemy," Durlan muttered, "it makes our treason worse somehow."

"But think," Mendal said, "when the Contara invade, we will be their allies, and our lives will be spared."

"Why not just give them a key to the city gates and be done with it?"

Javare swung on Durlan. "Have you a better plan? Will you stand by and let Minna-Satu take the Queen's Cup and put a Cotti half-breed on the throne?"

Durlan looked away. "No. I will agree only to save the Queen's life. That way, I am not committing treason, for saving her life is the greatest act of loyalty that one can commit."

"Do not expect a reward, My Lord," Mendal drawled. "Killing the Princess is an equally great act of treason."

"Not when she is the daughter of the Cotti King."

"Indeed," Javare murmured. "For once I agree with you, Durlan."

"Good, then we are decided." Mendal drained his glass. "We three must meet the Contara prince and make the deal."

Javare raised his wine glass. "To success."

Blade walked into the Queen's chambers and bowed, glancing back as the guards closed the doors behind him. Minna-Satu stood amid a bevy of handmaidens as they pinned, tucked and tugged at her gown. The heavy peacock-blue silk skirt was picked out with gold patterns, and a jewel-encrusted bodice revealed her slender waist, regained just five days after the Princess' birth. Her hair, swept up into cascading coils and decorated with gold pins and white plumes, gleamed like an ebon crown above an ivory face flushed with excitement. She greeted Blade with a warm smile.

"My Lord Conash."

"My Queen."

"I am pleased that you are appropriately dressed for a change."

Blade glanced down at the form-hugging, silver-patterned black velvet tunic and trousers that he wore over a loose white linen shirt and shrugged. "Jayon again."

"My compliments on the commander's taste."

The assassin looked disgruntled. "You wished to see me?"

Minna clicked her tongue, but her smile did not waver. "Indeed I did. My spies inform me that several lords and advisors have not presented themselves for the ball. This is considered a grave breach of protocol, you understand? Not something that one does without an excellent excuse, yet none of these men have sent their regrets or pleaded illness."

"So you suspect them of plotting something?"

"Yes. Almost all of them have left the city on some pretext, but it is odd that none of them have returned for the ball."

"Who are they?" Blade enquired.

"Lord Durlan was last seen entering a brothel four days ago. This is not unusual, but for his absence tonight."

"Perhaps he caught something nasty."

Minna's smile broadened. "Perhaps. Mendal has gone to visit his sister in Urstasia, I am told, but Urstasia fell to the Contara a tenday ago."

"He has bad timing."

"Very. Lord Charagar returned to his family in Cornia two tendays ago, and Cornia fell yesterday." She sighed and glanced at a busy seamstress. "More bad timing perhaps. Then there is Lord Javare, who left four days ago to visit his cousin in Beerdmont, as yet still free."

"When did Mendal leave?"

"Four days ago."

Blade looked thoughtful. "Strange that these three all left on the same day."

"Yes, except, of course, Durlan entered a brothel, supposedly."

The assassin glanced at the sand cat, who was awake for a change and indulging in a thorough bath. "What do you wish me to do?"

Minna waved her attendants away, waiting until they had left the room before turning to face him. "I am certain that these four are plotting something. Their absence proves it, for they would not dare to snub me so if they were loyal. It is too late to assassinate them, since we know not where they are. I have long suspected Mendal, and I believe that he would stop at nothing." She glanced at the cot. "Not even murdering Kerra."

Minna wandered over to gaze down at the infant before turning to him again. "He must not succeed. Unfortunately my spies can tell me nothing, so I do not know how he plans to do it."

"He cannot use a Jashimari assassin, none would kill the Princess, no matter who her father is."

"Then how?"

Blade watched the preening cat. "They would need an enemy assassin, a Cotti or Contara, unless they plan to do it themselves."

"Mendal is a dodderer."

He nodded. "And Durlan is too fat, but Javare and Charagar are in their prime."

"But they are not assassins."

"You hardly need an assassin to kill an infant, My Queen."

"I have guards, and Shista."

The assassin inclined his head, wandering over to the window. "So if they have hired an assassin, you must double or treble your guard, and place men in the room."

"I cannot have men in my bed chamber, it is unheard-of. Nor can I put Kerra in a separate room, she requires feeding at night. Also, Shista is not always here, some nights she goes out to hunt."

Blade turned to frown at her. "What are you suggesting?"

"You know very well, My Lord, I can tell from your expression. I would have you guard us at night."

His frown deepened. "You have just said that you cannot allow men in your bed chamber."

Minna looked away. "I meant guards, common soldiers. You are a lord."

"And a eunuch." He pulled a wry face. "Why be embarrassed about it, My Queen? We both know it to be true."

"You are a lord and an assassin, you -"

"I am not a bodyguard."

She blinked at his interruption, a flash of annoyance crossing her visage. "You are ten times more alert than a soldier, you -"

"I am not a fighter, My Queen. What if there is more than one, perhaps three or four? Ten guards outside your door would do more good."

Minna's nostrils flared as she reined her temper with an obvious effort. "You will stop interrupting me, Blade. I shall increase the guards at my door, but I will also have you hidden in my room. They have spies, they will know that there are more guards and plan for it. They will not know about you. I shall have a manservant enter my room early on in the day, dress in your clothes, and leave shortly after you arrive. The spies will think that it is you who have left."

He gazed out of the window. "I see. So you are convinced that they intend to kill the Princess."

"It is the only course open to them. It is the only way they can force me to change my plans. If she dies, I must live, and Jashimari will fall."

"And how will you know when they will strike?"

"They will not dare to show their faces when they return. That is why you will take up your duty tonight and continue until the assassin is dead."

Blade swung to face her. "I am not a watchdog. One night I can accept, but it may be days before they come."

"And who better to kill an assassin than one of his own kind?" She sighed at his tight-lipped expression. "I would not ask this of you if it was not so important. Kerra's life is too precious to be at risk. You know that. Besides, it will not be more than a tenday. We do not have that much time left."

He gave a stiff, angry bow, his eyes meeting hers. "As you wish, My Queen."

Minna stepped closer and took hold of his hand. "Do not be angry, My Lord. I beg your aid, and I mean you no insult." She looked down at his hand, which had too often known the stain of blood. "My daughter's life depends upon you, and when I am gone she will be yours. I entrust her into these hands that have killed so many, secure in the knowledge that their deadliness will be her salvation."

Blade glanced down, startled by her words and touch. Releasing his hand, Minna walked to the cradle and gathered up the Princess in her wrappings. With an air of determination, she held out the bundle, smiling when he stepped back.

"Take her."

Minna-Satu thrust the child into his arms, forcing the assassin to take her even though his discomfiture was vast. The Queen walked away to gaze out of the window, and Blade glanced down at the tiny face cradled against his chest. Minna turned to him.

"A strange picture, My Lord. Surely no assassin has ever held his future Queen in his arms."

"What are you trying to do?"

"I am giving her to you. She is yours. Your child, and your Queen. Would you not give your life to protect her?"

Blade went to the cradle and placed the Princess in it, straightening to scowl at the Queen. "Such ploys do not work on me. If you think that this can sway me, you are much mistaken. I will do as you ask, and, if I slay an assassin in this room, I shall expect payment for my services. Lying in ambush is an acceptable strategy, though not one I have ever employed."

She gazed at him until he looked away. "You must truly have a heart of stone. It saddens me to think that you will never know the joy of loving someone, not even a child. What I did was not a ploy, it was to show you how much I trust you. Does nothing touch you?"

"No. I perform a service for a fee, nothing more."

Minna's face hardened. "Very well, let us be business-like. I shall open my coffers to you. Take whatever you wish, but only if the Princess survives. Her life is beyond price. If she dies, I shall have you eviscerated and hung on the palace walls for the crows to feast upon your eyes." The assassin cast her a startled glance, and Minna raised her chin, glaring at him. "I too can be cold and unfeeling. It is unpleasant, is it not?"

Blade smiled. "Evisceration is an unpleasant thought, of course, but no worse, I am sure, than Kerrion will do to me when he gets here."

"Do not try my patience. How can I rest easy unless I know that the man to whom I have entrusted my daughter feels some fondness for her?"

"You chose the wrong man, My Queen. As I have told you, I shall not survive Kerrion's invasion, so my feelings are irrelevant."

"You cannot be certain of that. Kerrion is an honourable man."

Blade's smile faded. "He is Cotti. Even if he was of a mind to spare me, it would only be for his amusement, perhaps to torture or humiliate me. His people will demand the blood of their King's killer, and he will have no choice."

Minna gazed at him. "Is there no one who has claim to your affections? Truly, no one at all?"

"No, My Queen, no one."

"But your mother and father, had they lived, would, surely?"

He shrugged, averting his eyes. "Had they lived."

"And your aunt?"

"I do not know her."

Minna sighed. "A pity. You have missed so much of life, so much joy and fulfilment."

"I am content."

"I know you to be an accomplished liar. Do not think for one moment that I believe you." She turned away. "You will return here after the ball and take up your duty. Be sure that you are sober."

He bowed. "My Queen."

Chapter Seven

The grand ball celebrating Princess Kerra-Manu's birth took place in the throne room, a chamber that seemed too immense to be filled to capacity. When all the guests had arrived, however, little space remained amongst them. In the adjoining banquet hall, dozens of massive tables were laid with golden cutlery and alabaster crockery. Servants scurried in and out with flagons of ale, wine and fruit juice, filling the guests' cups until the Queen's arrival. Blade entered with Minna-Satu's entourage, Chiana at his side, clad in a gold-patterned white satin gown. Gems sparkled in her dressed hair, and joy and excitement brought a warm flush to her cheeks.